Study on Maturation Stages of Aromatic Coconut Fruit within the Same Bunch

Abstract

There is a saying that “Coconut within a bunch has a different maturation stages.”, however this farmer believed has never been proven. Therefore, we have a hypothesis that the female flowers in spadix gradually bloom and those flowers are not simultaneous pollinated resulting in the coconut fruit in the same bunch has the different maturation stages. This research aims to study the maturation stages of the coconut fruit within the same bunch. Twenty-nine bunches of coconut were harvested at 6.5 - 7 months after full bloom. The number of fruit per bunch, fruit weight, kernel thickness, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA) and TSS/TA ratio were determined. The result showed that the average number of fruit per bunch was 7 - 14 fruit. The average of kernel thickness, fruit weight, TSS, TA, and the ratio of TSS/TA was 0.44 cm, 1.74 kg, 7.42°Brix, 0.072%, and 111, respectively.  The fruit weight, kernel thickness, TSS, TA and TSS/TA ratio within the same bunch (8 - 13 fruit/bunch) were not significantly different. It was concluded that the aromatic coconut fruit within the same bunch was the same maturation stages